This past month has been a whirlwind of events—both happy and sad. We started the summer by losing our sweet Lola. Lola was 14 and had been with me since she was 6 months old. She was a gentle dog who loved to chase vacuums, eat bacon, lay in the sun, and hike. During the last month of her life she developed a heart murmur, had a mass growing in her belly, and stopped eating. It was extremely difficult to watch our beloved girl slowly deteriorate. We said goodbye to Lola on June 3. Lola left a hole in our little family and it was difficult to come home and see her pillow and blankets empty. We missed her daily greeting, our family walks, and her company. As sad as it is to lose a pet, we also knew there were many pets out there who needed a good home too.

Although we still grieve for our little Lola, we welcomed a new little dog into our lives. Meet Penny Lane, our sweet Dachshund-Chihuahua mix. Penny is a character and loves to snuggle. We adopted her from the Nevada Humane Society. She was rescued from a hoarder and we are almost certain she had never been on grass or outside of the house prior to her rescue. She was in the shelter for 7 months. Although she was timid and shy in the shelter, her personality comes out more and more each day she spends in her forever home. She loves to play and greets us each morning ready for action. She still hates grass but walks on it more and more (only when she has to). She prefers the cement and she loves to lay on the rocks. I think Penny Lane was in that shelter waiting for us—to help heal our broken hearts. She has brought us so much joy and laughter, we couldn't be happier to share our home with such a lovable girl.

Our little Lola.

Penny Lane (photo by my partner Casey)

Artisan Market Place Photo by Doug Jones (AMP member artist)

This summer has brought some new beginnings in regards to my art too. I am now a member of the Artisans Market Place (AMP) in beautiful historic Truckee, California. AMP is a true co-op, featuring 18 artist members. The shop features a variety of work from talented folks. All items are handmade by local artists.

We are located in Brickelltown in the Titus Home. The Titus Home was built around 1912. It was designed by architect Will Bliss for Frank Titus, Sr., a railroad engineer. AMP is just minutes away from Donner State Park and Tahoe. Find us on Facebook and be sure to "like" us so you can keep up with all of the local events and happenings. And if you are in the area be sure to stop by and say hello.